Everybody! This post originally appears on the Newest Industry blog. I contribute to Newest Industry relatively frequently. Please check it out if you get the chance.
Patterson Hood, Azure Ray, The Helio Sequence, The David Wax Museum, & Meme
Hello, MP3 junkies and welcome to the eighth installment of Songs Of The Week. For those of you who are new to the post, we've asked a couple of our regular contributors to review the 5 songs given away via The Current's free Song Of The Day Podcast. As always, we recommend that you download the podcast for yourself here and play along at home.
Fortunately for both us here at the blog and you loyal readers, MinneSarah is back after a week-long absence. To the chagrin of fans of thoughtful commentary and the English language in general, TCDroogsma proved yet again to very available. Like every week, they have not read what the other has written about the tracks beforehand.
So, take it away, kids...
01. Patterson Hood - Disappear (from the album Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance)
MinneSarah:
Everything about this sounds like a hipster Dave Matthews Band song. The tempo, the strings, the piano, the lyrics. I like the guy from Drive By Trucker's voice at times, but there is no saving it in this song. The lyrics are either about fighting with your girl and withdrawing into yourself, or a literal metamorphosis about turning into a mouse. I loved the 90's and am somewhat nostalgic for a DMB revival. However, honeys, this ain't the Clinton era.
TCDroogsma:
I've never totally understood why singers or songwriters leave bands in which they are a lead singer and songwriter to record solo albums that sound exactly like the band they just left. I didn't understand it when Jason Isbell left The Drive-By Truckers to go solo and I don't understand it now that Patterson Hood has, at least temporarily left The Drive-By Truckers. Maybe this band is a bunch of assholes.
Anyway, if you're familiar with The Drive-By Truckers version of Southern indie rock you can probably hear this song in your head before you even click play. The lyrics are actually pretty touching, with the "disappear" of the title referencing his ability to go inside his own head during trouble (evidently with his parents?). The songs clinching line, "sometimes I hear words spoken underneath the song and I
associate completely," is a killer.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 1/5
TCDroogsma - 3/5
02. Azure Ray - Red Balloon (from the EP As Above So Below)
MinneSarah:
The stilted electronic backdrop and lulling vocal verses are intriguing. However, the chorus is so boring and predictable. I'm giving Azure Ray the benefit of being one of the few Saddle Creek bands that does not whine on all their songs. However, this song is pleasant and not much else.
TCDroogsma:
The stilted electronic backdrop and lulling vocal verses are intriguing. However, the chorus is so boring and predictable. I'm giving Azure Ray the benefit of being one of the few Saddle Creek bands that does not whine on all their songs. However, this song is pleasant and not much else.
TCDroogsma:
It took me a half a dozen listens to figure out exactly why I like this song. It's a semi-endearing love song, but the production is what really makes it. The cavernous drums of the verses sound exactly like a pounding heart when someone's eyes take you, "by surprise like a summer rain." When the those drums drop out for the first chorus, the synthesizers envelope's the song with the same warmth as the realization of the connection made. The rest of the song, in which the drums and warm-blanket synths combine, paints a fully-realized picture of hipsters in love. I'd bet even money that this song will be played as a first dance at the most tattooed-up wedding you've ever been to.
Final Score: MinneSarah -2/5
TCDroogsma - 3.5/5
03. The Helio Sequence - October (from the album Negotiations)
MinneSarah:
Helio Sequence are a good band for epic poppy ballads. This song is not as epic as I would have hoped. The guitar is nice, but the lyrics are hackeneyed relationship advice and have nothing to do with the month of October. Still, expect the intricate guitar build ups which are always a treat.
TCDroogsma:
Is it weird that, even though I've never owned a Helio Sequence album, I knew exactly what this song would be like before I even heard it? Kinda indie, kinda dynamic, lot's of echo-ey "whoa's." I suppose this isn't a bad thing, just a predictable thing. If you've liked previous Helio Sequence songs than you will like this one.
The vague, "keep in mind" statements that start of each verse are kind of annoying. That's the type of shit you say when you want to make a point to your girlfriend but don't want to seem petty by bluntly pointing out some trivial slight from a previous fight. Or am I the only one that does that? Wait, that actually explains a few things...
Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5
TCDroogsma - 2.5/5
04. The David Wax Museum - Will You Be Sleeping (from the album Knock Knock Get Up)
MinneSarah:
This is an uber-catchy song with a lot of distinct elements. Usually this is a bad thing, but horns sort of speak to each other and it works. The lyrics are realistic yet lighthearted about couples' insecurities yet are not that annoying. There is a boy/girl chorus, which actually works together and mirrors the lyrics in a way that symbolizes the duality of the lyrics. A little too hipster for my tastes, points off for the tambourine.
TCDroogsma:
Wait a minute, dude's girlfriend sleeps all day while he's out doing stuff and wakes up just long enough to wrap herself in a sheet and wait by the window for him? C'mon, girl. At least get dressed. Maybe fix up some toast and have some orange juice.
I can't say I blame her though. I mean, he's enabling this type of behavior. Dude's careful not to wake her up when he kisses her as he leaves. He even asks that she leave the bed unmade! If my significant other spent their days writing reggae-tinged, cliche-ridden "love" songs I'd stay in bed all day too.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5
TCDroogsma - 1/5
05. Meme - Young (from the album Young)
MinneSarah:
This song is electronic-y and mellow, but with acoustic-y sounding guitar. It sounds surprisingly sophisticated. The vocals really carry the song, and carries through the lulling background. The lyrics are about being young, but maybe because I'm old, they capture a nice mix of action and nostalgia. I love the barking "oh, oh, oh's," Damon Albarn would be proud.
TCDroogsma:
I miss Digitata.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5
TCDroogsma - 4/5
There you have it, everybody. Another week of free music judged and discarded. Please remember that this neither this blog nor its contributors or is any way affiliated with the artists, The Current, or Minnesota Public Radio.
Be sure to cast your vote in our poll for which song was your favorite of the past week.
For more MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter and Instagram (@MinneSarah). She's currently coming to grips with the difference between alarm clocks and cats.
For more TCDroogsma you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or check out his personal blog Flatbasset where he's currently counting down Morrissey songs. We've been searching for the right psychiatrist do deal with this development.
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